Contents
Warm, soft, fluffy – all this is a blanket. Today it can be found in almost every home, where it serves as a cover for sofas and armchairs or replaces a blanket on winter evenings.
When buying, few people think about whether it is possible to wash a blanket in a washing machine and how to do it correctly. Among the wide variety you can find products made from natural and synthetic materials: wool, cashmere, acrylic, polyester.
In the article we will tell you how to care for these fabrics.
Can the blanket be washed in the washing machine?
Can the blanket be washed in a washing machine? It all depends on the quality of the material of the product, the volume of loading your machine.
Always read the product label before washing. There, the manufacturer indicates under what conditions it is necessary to care for the blanket.
Natural materials
Plaids made from natural fabrics are recommended for hand washing. Although with the proper approach, machine processing can also be organized. Let’s take a closer look at each material.
Wool
Woolen blankets are considered the warmest. At the same time, a lot of dust accumulates in the fabric, it easily absorbs odors. If the product does not appear to be dirty, shake it well to remove dust and hang it outdoors.
Is there dirt on the surface of the product with long pile? If they are minor, you can clean them with a dry brush or send them to dry cleaning. A fleecy product made of short wool can be cleaned with a brush with a solution.
- Prepare a soapy solution with one teaspoon of vinegar.
- Spread a blanket on a flat surface and dip a soft brush into the solution.
- Clean dirt carefully, being careful not to damage the fibers.
If washing is still unavoidable, it is recommended to do it manually:
- Fill the tub with cool water (no higher than 30 degrees).
- Use only special liquid products for wool or delicate fabrics. You can also dilute the shampoo.
- Please note that merino wool knitwear cannot be subjected to mechanical stress. Leave them to lie down for 10 minutes, rinse the product gently and leave to drain the water.
To restore the wool product to its original whiteness, it is recommended to soak it in water with lemon slices.
Dry the thing on a flat, ventilated surface. You can use a clothes dryer, only you need to lay out the product horizontally.
Cotton
Can cotton blankets be washed in a washing machine? Certainly! Cotton products are easy to take care of at home. They do not accumulate dust, are not demanding on the mode and temperature of washing. You can set the cotton program and use your usual detergent.
Fold a large blanket several times and load it into the drum. Do not forget that natural fabrics absorb a lot of water, so you need to consider the possibilities of loading the drum. The spin should be set to the maximum in order to squeeze the item qualitatively. You can hang it on a rope in a vertical position.
Cashmere
If you do not know at what temperature to wash a cashmere blanket, then read the instructions for a woolen product. Care for delicate cashmere products is similar. The material does not tolerate mechanical stress, friction, wringing. Therefore, only manual care, ventilation, washing at a temperature not exceeding 40 degrees.
Artificial materials
How to wash plush blankets, faux fur products? Such fabrics perfectly tolerate processing in the washing machine. Let’s take a closer look at the most popular plaid options.
Acrylic, polyester
Synthetic acrylic blankets, as well as polyester products, are unpretentious. These fabrics do not allow air to pass through, so they are usually used as a bedspread.
Machine wash on delicate or hand wash. The low temperature of these programs is just right for such things.
A softening conditioner is recommended. It also reduces the static effect that occurs when using artificial fabrics.
Fleece
Consider in what mode you can wash a fleece blanket. The material is unpretentious, but there are some features:
- Select only a delicate wash program.
- Apply liquid powder.
- Do not use fabric softeners or fabric softeners. They can destroy the water-repellent properties of the material.
- Set only the minimum spin, and when washing by hand, just let the water drain.
Drying can take place in a vertical position, but only in the shade.
Microfiber
Microfiber products can be washed both by hand and in a typewriter. Choose a temperature up to 60 degrees. It is necessary to dry, horizontally spreading out on the surface, without exposure to the open sun.
Artificial fur
A large shaggy blanket is not easy to load into the washing machine. But if the load size allows it, wash on the delicate cycle. The same applies to products in the form of “grass” and plush.
Drying blankets can take place on the ropes, in the fresh air. The main thing is to periodically move the product so that there are no bald spots on the fold.
General conclusions, in what mode to wash the blanket
Proper storage and careful use of the blanket will save it from frequent washing. Store such things without bags or in packaging that allows air to pass through.
- Pay attention to the designations on product labels.
- Compare the capacity of the washing machine with the size of the blanket (despite the fact that it will still absorb a lot of water).
- Roll up the blanket before loading. Select only delicate programs with or without gentle spin.
- Use special products, especially for natural materials.
- Dry flat out of the sun.
- It is better to entrust the care of natural fur to dry cleaning. It is not known how the material will react to your attempts to put it in order.
Place moth repellant or a sprig of lavender next to your blanket for a pleasant scent. It is always better to shake the product from dust and ventilate it in the fresh air than to wash it.
Before buying things made from natural fabrics, especially large sizes, think about whether you can provide them with proper care.